The New York Herald

Tammany Hall—Meeting of the Soft Shells

Last evening the soft shell committee met at "the coal hole" of Tammany Hall for the purpose of organization, Daniel E. Delavan in the chair. The hard shells kept aloof, and there was little or no excitement, with the exception of a breeze between one hard shell and a member of the committee on the stairs going down to the coal hole. The hard shell accused the committee of having for its members cut throats, baggage smashers, and pocket-book droppers, and charged a considerable number of them with having voted either for Van Buren or Taylor in 1848. The soft shell denied the soft impeachment—bets were offered—and finally the matter became rather personal, and the parties separated.

In order to fill up the vacancies in place of the hard shells who revolted, the soft shells called new elections; and among the returns made were two of the Sachems, Messrs. Fowler and Dunlap. It also appeared that the soft shells recognized hard shells at their former meeting as fairly elected, whom they now repudiate, and take in others in their stead. The Fifth ward was left in abeyance.

After the committee was organized, L. B. Shepard was selected Chairman, Jacob F. Oakley, Fourth ward, Treasurer, and Messrs. Vosburgh and Glover, Secretaries.

A resolution was passed, calling the Young Men's Committee to meet on Wednesday evening next.

It is doubtful whether they will obey the call, as they are nearly all hard shells. There is to be a meeting previously of the Tammany Society when there will be terrible contest. The soft shells threaten to have those members expelled that held the meeting at French's hotel; and the hards on the contrary, say that they will give the Sachems "a rap over the knuckles" for their action. What harmony! The Kilkenny cats are peaceable animals, compared with the hard and the soft shells.